News briefs

North end coalition hosts forum

The North End Coalition of Property Owners will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. April 22, at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, 6860 Longboat Drive S. 

Five topics are on the agenda: creating a gateway and plaza area on the north end that preserve its character; sand projects and Longboat Pass dredging; preserving Beer Can Island as a natural habitat; benefits of undergrounding utility wires; and solutions to traffic congestion.

Speakers include Town Manager Dave Bullock, Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross, District 5 Commissioner Pat Zunz, Planning, Zoning and Building Director Alaina Ray, Public Works Director Juan Florensa and Revitalization Task Force Vice Chairman Tom Freiwald. 

Commission approves attorney contract change

The Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously approved a request from Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale to amend her contract at its Monday regular workshop. 

The change allows her to bill the town extra for any procurement work on town vendor contracts performed over the 18 hours of work that her contract allots to the town as part of her $20,312.50 contract. Any hours over 18 hours will be billed at her firm’s current hourly rate of $195. 

Town Manager Dave Bullock said he plans to add purchasing contract review duties to Finance Department employees in the 2015-16 fiscal year to offset additional hours Mooney-Portale would use for those services.  

Commission OKs canal survey

The Longboat Key Town Commission gave unanimous consensus Monday at its regular workshop  for town staff to proceed with a  $100,000 canal survey and feasibility study. 

The town has approximately $1.3 million reserved in two funds for canal-dredging projects. 

A year ago, the town used staff and the police boat to measure the depths of the island’s canals. 

“We told you previously the canals were in better shape than we thought,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock. “This study allows us to develop further criteria so we know which canals we should and shouldn’t dredge and gives us a profile of canals and funding alternatives for future projects.”

Meetings & agenda

Consolidated Retirement System Board of Trustees Special Meeting — 11 a.m. Friday, April 24

Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, May 4

Planning and Zoning Board Special Workshop — 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 5

Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, May 11